Lessons from Peter

Oh, how I identify with Peter! I am impulsive, a fixer, a doer. And, as was often the case with Peter, I land in hot water. I was recently reading Matthew 16 - 17. In a matter of a few verses, Peter made one of the most profound statements in the Bible by declaring Jesus to be "the Christ, the Son of the living God", was rebuked by Jesus for being a mouthpiece of Satan and was interrupted in his explanation of plans to build tabernacles to Moses, Elijah and Jesus by God Himself. Whew!

Peter was real, though. What you saw is what you got. Though we saw his impulsiveness and sometimes misplaced zeal, we saw his humility and his brokenness when confronted with his sin. When Jesus told him to throw his nets on the other side of the boat and they were immediately filled with more fish than he and his fellow fishermen could haul in, he had a reaction that had nothing to do with the great haul of fish. Recognizing who Jesus was, he was confronted with the shame of his own sinfulness. He said, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!" We see his immediate sorrow in denying his Lord when, hearing the rooster crow, "he went out and wept bitterly."

I love Mark's account of the empty tomb and the angel instructing the women there that "He is risen; He is not here...go, tell His disciples and Peter He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you." Jesus wanted Peter reassured that he stilled belonged to Him.

Someone has said that Peter may be one of the most fleshed-out characters of the Bible. We certainly see his character revealed in so many incidents. Then we read the wonderful wisdom of his writings in his later life.

Peter warns his readers in his first letter to "be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Who knew better that Peter how important the admonition to stay alert and resist the devil is? Then he closes this letter with this benediction: ..."the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you". Who knew better than Peter the power of the God of all grace to perfect us towards His likeness, confirm us as His chosen, strengthen us to do His work and establish us as His church now and forevermore?